MLA 9 Citation Guide for English Majors

Introduction

If you are an English major, you already know that citing sources is not just a formality, it is part of how you read, interpret, and join the conversation around texts. Still, MLA for English majors can feel oddly unforgiving. One minute you are deep in a close reading, the next you are stuck wondering how to cite a line break in a poem, how to handle act, scene, and line numbers in a play, or what to do when a critical edition has three different “authors” on the title page. If you have ever felt that literature citations MLA rules are written for simpler sources than the ones you actually use, you are not alone.

This guide is built for the real workflow of literary analysis MLA writing. You will find clear, practical help for the sources that show up in English seminars and research essays, including literary sources, poetry citations, play formatting, and critical editions. You will also get a straightforward roadmap for building a Works Cited entry and matching it to clean, confident in text citations, so your argument stays in the spotlight instead of your parentheses.

Because details matter in English major citations, we will pay special attention to author formatting in MLA 9. You will learn how to write full first names rather than initials, how to invert the first author’s name for the Works Cited list, how to format two authors with the word “and,” and how to use “et al.” correctly for three or more authors. You will also see what to do when there is no listed author, so you can start with the title without awkward placeholders.

Along the way, you will get examples designed for literature students, not generic web articles. Expect models for citing poems from anthologies and databases, plays in collected editions, novels with editors and introductions, and scholarly criticism that frames your interpretation. The goal is simple, you should finish this guide feeling like MLA is a tool that supports your reading, not a hurdle that interrupts it.

Understanding MLA 9th Edition

Core philosophy of MLA citation for English majors

MLA style is designed for writers in literature, language, and the humanities. Its core philosophy is simple, cite sources in a way that helps readers do three things.

1. Identify your source quickly. Readers should be able to tell what you used, who created it, and what it is called.
2. Find your source easily. A Works Cited entry should give a clear path to locate the exact version you consulted.
3. Understand how you used the source. In-text citations point to where an idea, quotation, or detail appears, so readers can verify your interpretation.

MLA does not treat citation as a punishment or a technical hoop. It treats citation as part of literary and rhetorical practice. When you quote a poem, analyze a film scene, or reference a scholarly argument, you are joining an ongoing conversation. MLA helps you show where your claims come from and how your reading connects to other readings.

Two habits matter most in MLA writing.

• Be consistent and transparent. Use the same logic across sources, and give enough information for a reader to retrace your steps.
• Cite the version you actually used. If you read an essay in a database, cite the database version. If you watched a film on a streaming platform, cite that platform.

The MLA “core elements” approach

MLA 9 organizes Works Cited entries around a set of core elements that you include when they apply to your source. You do not memorize a separate formula for every possible source type. Instead, you build a citation by answering, in order, “What is this, who made it, where did you find it, and how can someone else find the same thing?”

A common sequence of elements is:

• Author.
• Title of source.
• Title of container,
• Other contributors,
• Version,
• Number,
• Publisher,
• Publication date,
• Location.

Not every element appears every time. The goal is not to force information into every slot. The goal is to include what is useful and relevant for retrieval.

The container system, what it means and why it matters

A container is the larger whole that “holds” the work you are citing. English majors use containers constantly, even when they do not call them that.

• A poem can be contained in an anthology.
• An article can be contained in a journal.
• A short story can be contained in a collection.
• A film can be contained in a streaming service.
• An essay can be contained in a database.

Containers matter because many works circulate in multiple places and versions. “The same” text can appear in a printed book, a scholarly edition, a course packet, and an online archive. The container tells your reader which pathway you used.

One container vs two containers

Sometimes there is one container, like a journal article in a journal. Sometimes there are two containers, like a journal article accessed through a database. In that case, you cite the journal as the first container and the database as the second container.

This is especially important in literary studies because you often cite works that are reprinted, excerpted, or hosted in platforms that change URLs and access routes.

Author rules you must get right in MLA 9

Author formatting is one of the most visible parts of MLA. It affects alphabetizing in Works Cited, it signals credibility, and it prevents confusion between similarly named writers.

Use full first names, not initials

MLA 9 emphasizes clarity, so you should use full first names when you have them, not initials.

• Correct: Morrison, Toni.
• Incorrect: Morrison, T.

This matters because initials can blur identities, especially in fields where many authors share surnames.

Invert only the first author’s name

The first author is written as Last, First Middle so your Works Cited list can be alphabetized by last name.

• Correct: Smith, John David.
• Incorrect: John David Smith.

Two authors use “and,” and do not invert the second name

For two authors, MLA uses the word and, not an ampersand. Only the first author is inverted.

• Correct: Garcia, Maria Elena, and Sanjay Patel.
• Incorrect: Garcia, Maria Elena, & Sanjay Patel.
• Incorrect: Garcia, Maria Elena and Patel, Sanjay.

Three or more authors use “et al.”

List the first author, then add et al. Do not list multiple authors before et al.

• Correct: Nickels, William, et al.
• Incorrect: Nickels, William, Smith, John, et al.

No author, start with the title

If there is no author, begin with the title. Do not use “Anonymous” or “n.d.”

Examples with correct formatting and detailed explanations

Example 1, journal article in a database (two containers)

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
Garcia, Maria Elena, and Sanjay Patel. “Reading Memory in Contemporary Diaspora Fiction.” Journal of Modern Narrative Studies, vol. 12, no. 3, 2022, pp. 45-68. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1234567.

Why this is correct
- Authors: Full first names are used. The first author is inverted, the second is not, and “and” connects them.
- Title of source: The article title is in quotation marks because it is a smaller work inside a larger one.
- First container: The journal title is italicized.
- Volume and number: Included because journals use them to identify the issue.
- Pages: Helpful for print-based navigation and for readers using PDFs.
- Second container: The database name is italicized because it is the platform that contains the journal issue for you.
- Location: A stable URL helps retrieval.

Practical tip: If your database provides a DOI, MLA often prefers it because it is more stable than a standard URL. Use what best helps a reader find the article you used.

Common pitfall: Inverting both author names, or using initials because the PDF header abbreviates names.

Example 2, chapter or essay in an edited anthology (one container)

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
Morrison, Toni. “The Site of Memory.” Inventing the Truth, The Art and Craft of Memoir, edited by William Zinsser, Houghton Mifflin, 1995, pp. 83-102.

Why this is correct
- Author: Full first name is used, and the name is inverted because Morrison is the author of the chapter.
- Title of source: The chapter title is in quotation marks.
- Container: The anthology title is italicized because it is the larger work.
- Other contributors: The editor is introduced with “edited by,” which clarifies responsibility for the collection.
- Publisher and date: These identify the specific edition you used.
- Pages: Crucial for readers who want to locate the chapter in the book and for supporting precise in-text citations.

Why the container matters here: The same essay can appear in multiple collections or editions. The container tells your reader which book you consulted, not just what the essay is called.

Common pitfall: Treating the anthology title as the “source” title and forgetting the chapter title, or italicizing the chapter title.

Example 3, web page with no author (start with the title)

Works Cited entry (correct formatting):
“Climate Change Effects.” Nature Today, 18 Apr. 2024, https://www.naturetoday.org/climate-change-effects.

Why this is correct
- No author: The entry begins with the title, not with “Anonymous” or “n.d.”
- Title of source: In quotation marks because it is a page or short work.
- Container: The website name is italicized.
- Date and URL: These help readers find the page, especially if the site updates content.

Practical tip: If the page has a last updated date and a separate publication date, choose the date that best reflects the version you used, and be consistent across your project.

Why these rules matter in literary and rhetorical analysis

In English courses, you often build arguments from close reading and from scholarly conversation. MLA rules matter because they support the ethics and mechanics of that work.

• They protect accuracy. A correct container shows the precise edition or platform, which can affect pagination, line numbering, and even wording.
• They strengthen credibility. Clean author formatting signals that you handled sources carefully.
• They make your argument checkable. Readers can verify quotations and evaluate whether your interpretation fits the context.

Practical tips and common pitfalls

Tips

• Write the Works Cited entry as you research, not at the end. Capture the container information before you lose the tab or the PDF.
• Ask “What holds this?” If you are looking at a poem on a website, the website is the container. If the poem is also inside a digital archive or database, you may have a second container.
• Use full first names whenever you can confirm them. Check the title page, the journal’s author page, or a reliable library record.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Using initials for first names when the full name is available.
• Using an ampersand instead of writing “and.”
• Inverting the second author’s name in two-author works.
• Listing multiple authors before et al. for three or more authors.
• Skipping the container and citing only the page title or only the database, which makes the source hard to locate.

If you want, I can also provide a quick checklist you can apply to any source, plus a model Works Cited page layout in MLA 9 format.

Author Formatting Rules

Author Name Formatting in MLA 9

In MLA 9, the author element is usually the first piece of information in a Works Cited entry. Getting author names right matters because it helps readers find the source quickly, it supports accurate alphabetizing in the Works Cited list, and it gives clear credit to the people responsible for the work. MLA 9 also prioritizes clarity in names, which is why full first names are preferred over initials in most student and academic writing contexts.

Below are the core MLA 9 rules you asked about, full names, name inversion, two authors with and, and et al. for three or more authors. The examples show correct formatting and explain what the formatting is doing.

1) Use Full First Names, Not Initials

What to do

MLA 9 favors full first names for authors, rather than initials. This makes the author easier to identify, especially when multiple authors share the same last name or first initial.

Correct pattern

• Last name, First name Middle name (if given)

Why it matters

Initials can create confusion. For example, “Morrison, T.” could refer to multiple people. Full names improve precision and respect the author’s identity.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Using initials for the first name.
• Using initials for both first and middle names.
• Abbreviating a middle name when it is spelled out in the source.

Quick tip

If the source lists the author as “John David Smith,” do not turn it into “Smith, J. D.” Keep the names spelled out.

2) Invert the First Author’s Name (Last, First Middle)

What to do

In the Works Cited list, the first author’s name is inverted, meaning the last name comes first. This is the standard MLA format because it supports alphabetical ordering.

Correct pattern

• Last name, First name Middle name

Why it matters

Works Cited entries are alphabetized by the first element, which is often the author’s last name. Inversion ensures all entries sort correctly and consistently.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Writing the author in normal order as the first element.
• Inverting every author in a multi author entry, only the first author is inverted.

3) Two Authors, Use “and,” Do Not Invert the Second Name

What to do

For a work with two authors, list them in this order:
1. First author inverted.
2. A comma.
3. The word and.
4. Second author in normal order, first name then last name.

Correct pattern

• Last name, First name, and First name Last name

Why it matters

This format keeps alphabetizing consistent while still presenting the second author’s name in a natural, readable way. MLA also prefers and over an ampersand because it matches formal academic style and avoids visual clutter.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Using & instead of and.
• Inverting the second author’s name.
• Forgetting and and separating authors with commas only.

Practical tip

If you see two authors on the title page or at the top of an article, you almost always use this two author format in the Works Cited entry.

4) Three or More Authors, Use “et al.” After the First Author Only

What to do

For a work with three or more authors, MLA 9 simplifies the entry. You list only the first author, inverted, then add et al. (meaning “and others”).

Correct pattern

• Last name, First name, et al.

Why it matters

Long author lists can make citations hard to scan. Using et al. keeps entries clean and readable while still giving clear credit to the group of authors.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Listing multiple authors and then adding et al.
• Using initials for the first author in an et al. citation.
• Forgetting the comma before et al.

Practical tip

Use et al. exactly as shown, with a period after al. because it is an abbreviation. Keep the spacing standard, and do not italicize it.

Examples With Detailed Explanations (2 to 3)

Example 1, One author, full first name and inversion

Correct MLA author formatting:
- Morrison, Toni

Why this is correct:
- The name is inverted, last name first, then a comma, then the full first name.
- The first name is not abbreviated, so it follows MLA 9’s emphasis on clarity.

Common incorrect versions and what they do wrong:
- Morrison, T.
This uses an initial instead of a full first name.
- Toni Morrison
This is not inverted, so it does not work as the first element of a Works Cited entry.

Practical takeaway:
If there is only one author, you almost always start the Works Cited entry with Last, First.

Example 2, Two authors, “and,” second author not inverted

Correct MLA author formatting:
- Garcia, Maria, and Sanjay Patel

Why this is correct:
- The first author is inverted, Garcia, Maria.
- A comma appears after the first author’s first name.
- The word and connects the names.
- The second author is in normal order, Sanjay Patel, not Patel, Sanjay.

Common incorrect versions and what they do wrong:
- Garcia, Maria, & Sanjay Patel
This uses an ampersand, MLA expects and.
- Garcia, Maria and Patel, Sanjay
This incorrectly inverts the second author.
- Garcia, Maria, Patel, Sanjay
This omits and, which makes the author list unclear.

Practical takeaway:
For two authors, only the first name is inverted. Always use the word and.

Example 3, Three or more authors, first author plus “et al.”

Correct MLA author formatting:
- Nickels, William, et al.

Why this is correct:
- The first author is inverted and uses a full first name, Nickels, William.
- A comma comes before et al.
- No additional authors are listed. MLA 9 uses et al. to replace the rest of the author list.

Common incorrect versions and what they do wrong:
- Nickels, William, Smith, John, et al.
This lists extra authors before et al., MLA says not to do that.
- Nickels, W., et al.
This uses an initial instead of the full first name.

Practical takeaway:
If there are three or more authors, stop after the first author and add et al. Do not add a second or third name before it.

Why These Rules Matter in a Works Cited List

Correct author formatting is not just a style preference. It affects how well your citations function.

• It supports alphabetizing. Inversion ensures entries sort by last name.
• It improves credibility. Consistent formatting signals careful research and attention to detail.
• It helps readers locate sources. Full names reduce confusion and make searching easier.
• It gives proper credit. Clear author identification is part of ethical academic writing.

Practical Tips and Common Pitfalls

Tips

• Copy the author’s name from the source carefully, then format it into MLA order.
• Keep the first author inverted, then switch to normal order for any second author.
• For three or more authors, use et al. immediately after the first author.
• Double check punctuation, commas and periods are part of the format.

Common pitfalls

• Using initials instead of full first names.
• Inverting the second author in a two author entry.
• Using & instead of and.
• Listing multiple authors and still adding et al.
• Forgetting the comma before et al.

If you want, I can also show how these author rules plug into complete Works Cited entries for a book, a journal article, and a web page, so you can see how the author element interacts with titles, containers, and publication details.

Title and Source Formatting

Overview: Why MLA Title Formatting Matters

In MLA 9, title formatting is not just decoration. It communicates what kind of source you are using and how that source relates to a larger work. Readers can quickly tell whether you are citing a complete, standalone work like a book or film, or a shorter piece that appears inside a larger container like an article in a journal or a chapter in a book. Consistent formatting also helps your Works Cited entries look professional and makes it easier for others to locate your sources.

MLA title formatting has three core expectations.

1. Use Title Case capitalization for all titles.
2. Use italics for complete, standalone works.
3. Use quotation marks for shorter works that are part of a larger container.

The sections below explain each expectation in clear, practical terms, with examples and common pitfalls.

Title Case Capitalization in MLA 9 (Applies to All Titles)

MLA 9 requires Title Case for titles of sources. This applies to everything, books, articles, web pages, films, journals, databases, and more. Title Case means you capitalize the first and last words of the title and all major words in between.

What to Capitalize (Major Words)

Capitalize:
- Nouns (Climate, Change, History)
- Pronouns (Her, They, Who)
- Verbs (Is, Run, Writing)
- Adjectives (Modern, Reluctant, Global)
- Adverbs (Quickly, Strongly, Today)
- Subordinating conjunctions often count as major words in practice (Although, Because, While), and MLA’s guidance focuses on capitalizing principal words.

What to Keep Lowercase (Minor Words)

Lowercase these words unless they are the first or last word of the title:
- Articles: a, an, the
- Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet
- Prepositions: in, on, at, by, to, of, from, with, over, under, between, and similar short connecting words

Common Title Case Mistakes to Avoid

• Using sentence case: “The impact of climate change” is incorrect in MLA because it only capitalizes the first word.
• Capitalizing every word: “The Impact Of Climate Change” is not MLA style because short prepositions like “of” should be lowercase unless first or last.
• Forgetting to capitalize the last word if it is a preposition: If a title ends in a preposition, it still gets capitalized because it is the last word.

Quick Tip for Title Case

When you are unsure, ask, “Is this word doing real work in the title?” If it names something, describes something, or shows action, capitalize it. If it is a short connector like “of” or “and,” lowercase it unless it is first or last.

Italics: Use for Complete, Standalone Works (Containers)

In MLA 9, italics are used for titles of complete works, meaning the work can stand on its own. These are often containers that hold smaller works inside them. Italics tell your reader, “This is a full publication or a complete creative work.”

Common Works That Use Italics

Use italics for:
- Books (including novels)
- Journals (journal titles, not article titles)
- Websites (the site name, not a specific page title)
- Films
- TV series (the series name, not an episode title)

This aligns with the MLA principle that containers are typically italicized because they are larger, self-contained works.

Why Italics Matter

Italics help readers immediately recognize the “big” source. For example, a journal article and a journal are different things. If you italicize the article by mistake, you blur that distinction and make your citation harder to interpret.

Quotation Marks: Use for Shorter Works Inside a Larger Container

Use quotation marks for titles of shorter works that appear inside a larger work. Quotation marks signal that the piece is not standalone and that it belongs to a container.

Common Works That Use Quotation Marks

Use quotation marks for:
- Article titles (journal, magazine, newspaper)
- Chapter titles in a book
- Web page titles on a website
- Poems
- Short stories
- TV episodes

Why Quotation Marks Matter

Quotation marks help the reader see the relationship between the short work and its container. A chapter title in quotation marks points to the book that contains it. An episode title in quotation marks points to the series that contains it.

Never Use Both Italics and Quotation Marks on the Same Title

In MLA 9, do not apply both italics and quotation marks to the same title. Doing so is redundant and incorrect. Choose one format based on what the title represents.

• If it is a complete work, use italics.
• If it is a shorter work inside a container, use “quotation marks.”

This rule is especially important because many writers try to add emphasis by double-formatting. MLA formatting is not about emphasis, it is about identifying the type of work.

Examples (With Explanations)

Example 1: Journal Article in a Journal

Correct formatting (shows both the shorter work and the container):
“Modern Storytelling.” Journal of Modern Arts.

Why this is correct:
- “Modern Storytelling” is a journal article, which is a shorter work inside a larger publication, so it uses quotation marks.
- Journal of Modern Arts is the journal title, a complete publication, so it uses italics.
- Both titles use Title Case, so “Modern” and “Storytelling” are capitalized.

Common pitfall:
Modern Storytelling is incorrect for an article title because italics are reserved for the container, not the article.

Example 2: Chapter in a Book

Correct formatting (chapter plus book container):
“Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers.” Teaching Writing Today.

Why this is correct:
- The chapter title is a smaller part of the book, so it uses quotation marks.
- The book is a complete work, so it uses italics.
- The chapter title uses Title Case, including capitalizing major words like “Engaging,” “Reluctant,” and “Writers.” The short word “to” stays lowercase because it is a preposition and not the first or last word.

Common pitfall:
“Teaching Writing Today” is incorrect because it uses both quotation marks and italics on the same title.

Example 3: Web Page on a Website

Correct formatting (page plus website container):
“The Impact of Climate Change.” National Geographic.

Why this is correct:
- A specific web page is a shorter work within a larger site, so it uses quotation marks.
- The website name is the container, so it uses italics.
- Title Case is used in the page title. “of” is lowercase because it is a preposition in the middle of the title.

Common pitfall:
“The impact of climate change” is incorrect because it uses sentence case instead of Title Case.

Practical Tips and Common Pitfalls

Tip 1: Decide if the Work Is Standalone or Part of Something Bigger

Ask, “Could this exist by itself as a complete work?”
- If yes, use italics.
- If no, and it appears inside something else, use “quotation marks.”

Tip 2: Format the Container Correctly

Writers often format the smaller piece correctly but forget the container. In MLA, containers are essential, and they are often italicized, such as Journal Name, Book Title, or Website Name.

Tip 3: Do Not Use Formatting for Emphasis

MLA title formatting is a labeling system. Avoid adding extra quotation marks or italics to make a title “stand out.” It should stand out because it is formatted correctly.

Pitfall: Confusing a Website Name With a Web Page Title

• Web page title uses quotation marks.
• Website name uses italics.

Pitfall: Incorrect Capitalization of Small Words

Remember that articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions are usually lowercase unless they are the first or last word.

Summary Checklist

Title Case (All Titles)

• Capitalize first and last word.
• Capitalize major words.
• Lowercase articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions unless first or last.

Italics (Complete Works)

• Books, journals, websites, films, TV series.

Quotation Marks (Shorter Works)

• Articles, chapters, web pages, poems, short stories, TV episodes.

Never Both

• Do not combine italics and quotation marks for the same title.

If you want, I can provide a mini practice set where you label each title as italics or quotation marks, then I will give an answer key with explanations.

Dates, Publishers, and Locations

Overview, how MLA 9 treats dates

In MLA 9, dates are part of the “publication details” in a Works Cited entry. They help readers identify the exact version of a source, especially when content is updated, reprinted, or posted online. MLA’s date rules are also about consistency. When every citation follows the same order and style, readers can quickly scan your Works Cited page and locate what they need.

Two core ideas guide MLA 9 date formatting:

1. Use the date format that matches the source. Some sources have a full day, month, and year, while others only have a year.
2. Place the date in the correct position in the citation. In MLA, the date generally comes after the publisher and before page numbers or a URL.

The sections below explain the main date rules you asked about, plus URL and DOI formatting because those elements often appear right next to dates.

Date placement in MLA 9, after the publisher

Rule: Place the publication date after the publisher and before page numbers or the URL. In MLA’s standard sequence, the publisher comes first, then the date, then the location details like page range or a web address.

This is the key order to remember:

Publisher, Date, Pages or URL.

This matters because MLA citations are built as a consistent chain of details. If you move the date to the wrong spot, your citation becomes harder to read and may look like a different citation style.

Correct and incorrect placement

Correct order
- Publisher, 2024, pp. 45-58.

Incorrect order
- Publisher. pp. 45-58, 2024.
This is wrong because the date is placed after the page numbers.

Incorrect format
- Author. (2024). Title.
This is wrong because MLA does not use parentheses around the year in this way, and MLA does not place the date immediately after the author like APA.

Day Month Year format, when you have a specific date

Rule: When a source gives a specific publication date, use Day Month Year with no commas. Months are abbreviated in MLA style (with a period for most abbreviations).

Correct examples
- 5 Feb. 2024
- 28 Dec. 2025

Incorrect examples
- Feb. 5, 2024
Incorrect because it uses month day year order and includes a comma.
- 2024-02-05
Incorrect because it uses ISO formatting, not MLA style.

MLA month abbreviations (common ones)

• Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

Practical tip: May, June, and July are not abbreviated in MLA 9.

Year only format, when the source does not give a full date

Rule: If a source lists only the year, use just the year and end that element with a period in most Works Cited entries.

Correct
- 2024.

Incorrect
- (2024)
Incorrect because MLA does not use parentheses for the year in Works Cited entries.

Year only dates are common for books, films, and other sources that do not provide a day and month.

No date available, omit the date entirely

Rule: If no publication date is provided, omit the date element. Do not insert placeholders like n.d.

Correct
- Author. Title. Publisher, URL.

Incorrect
- Publisher, n.d., URL.
Incorrect because MLA does not use n.d.

Why this matters: MLA prefers accuracy over guessing. A placeholder can imply a date decision that the source itself does not support.

Access dates, when and how to use them

Rule: Access dates are optional, but recommended for content that changes often, such as wikis, dynamic databases, and frequently updated news pages. If you include one, write it as:

Accessed Day Month Year.

Place the access date at the end of the citation, usually after the URL.

Correct
- URL. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.

Common pitfall: placing the access date before the URL, or writing the date in the wrong order.

URLs in MLA 9, remove http:// and https://

When you include a URL in MLA 9, you generally omit the protocol, meaning you remove http:// or https://.

Preferred MLA form
- www.example.com/article

Not preferred
- https://www.example.com/article

Why this matters: MLA aims for clean, readable citations. The protocol usually does not help the reader locate the source, and removing it reduces clutter.

Practical tip: Keep the rest of the URL accurate. Do not shorten it unless your instructor allows it or the source provides a stable short link.

DOI formatting in MLA 9

A DOI is often better than a URL for academic articles because it is designed to be permanent. In MLA 9, DOIs are typically presented as a link using the https://doi.org/ format.

Example DOI format
- https://doi.org/10.1234/abcd.5678

If you include a DOI, it usually functions like the location element, similar to a URL. It typically comes near the end of the citation, after the date and after page numbers when page numbers are included.

Practical tip: Use a DOI when available, even if you also accessed the article through a database, because the DOI is often the most stable locator.

Examples, correct MLA 9 formatting with explanations

Example 1, journal article with a specific date and page range

Works Cited entry

Lopez, Marisol. “Rewriting Urban Memory.” Journal of City Studies, vol. 18, no. 2, Urban Press, 5 Feb. 2024, pp. 45-58.

Why this is correct
- The date uses Day Month Year with no commas: 5 Feb. 2024.
- The date is placed after the publisher: Urban Press, 5 Feb. 2024,
- Page numbers come after the date: pp. 45-58.

Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing Feb. 5, 2024 or February 5, 2024.
- Moving the date to the end after the page range.

Example 2, web page with a specific date, URL without protocol, and an access date

Works Cited entry

Chen, Alina. “How Heat Waves Reshape Cities.” Climate Desk, Green Media Network, 28 Dec. 2025, climatedesk.org/heat-waves-cities. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

Why this is correct
- The publication date uses the MLA format: 28 Dec. 2025.
- The date appears after the publisher: Green Media Network, 28 Dec. 2025,
- The URL is included without https://: climatedesk.org/heat-waves-cities.
- The access date comes at the end and uses the correct label and format: Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.

When the access date is especially useful
- If the page is updated often.
- If the content is part of a dynamic site where text can change without notice.

Example 3, journal article with a year only and a DOI

Works Cited entry

Patel, Rina. “Microplastics and Coastal Food Chains.” Marine Biology Review, vol. 12, no. 1, Shoreline Academic, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1234/mbr.2024.0017.

Why this is correct
- The source uses year only, so MLA uses 2024, in the publication sequence.
- The year appears after the publisher: Shoreline Academic, 2024,
- The DOI is formatted as a usable link: https://doi.org/...
- The DOI is placed at the end as the location element.

Common mistakes to avoid
- Putting the year in parentheses, like (2024).
- Writing the DOI as doi:10.1234/... when your guide prefers the https://doi.org/ format.

Why these rules matter, clarity, credibility, and easy retrieval

Date formatting and placement are not just cosmetic. They help your reader:

• Confirm the exact version of a source, especially online.
• Track updates when content changes over time.
• Find the source quickly, because MLA citations follow a predictable order.
• Trust your work, since consistent formatting signals careful research and editing.

Practical tips and common pitfalls

Tips

• Copy the date exactly as the source presents it, then convert it to MLA format, especially for web pages.
• If you have a full date, use Day Month Year. If you only have a year, use the year only.
• Put the date after the publisher, then add page numbers or a URL.
• Prefer a DOI over a URL for scholarly articles when available.
• Add an access date when the content is likely to change.

Common pitfalls

• Using commas in dates, like 5 Feb., 2024.
• Writing American style dates, like Feb. 5, 2024.
• Putting the date after page numbers or after the URL.
• Using n.d. when no date is listed.
• Keeping https:// in URLs when your MLA guide expects it removed.

If you want, I can generate a mini checklist you can paste into your citation guide, or I can revise your existing MLA 9 date section to match these rules and examples.

In-Text Citations

What MLA 9 in-text citations do

MLA 9 in-text citations tell readers two things quickly.

1. Who the information comes from, usually the author’s last name.
2. Where to find it in the source, usually the page number.

In-text citations work with your Works Cited list. The name in your citation must match the first element of the corresponding Works Cited entry. This connection helps readers locate your source easily, and it helps you show that you are using sources responsibly.

MLA uses two main in-text citation styles.

• Parenthetical citation, the author and location appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
• Narrative citation, the author is named in the sentence, and only the page number goes in parentheses.

Both styles follow the same key rule for print sources, the author-page format.

Author-page format, no comma, no p. or pp.

For most books, articles, and PDFs with stable page numbers, MLA 9 uses author last name + space + page number. You do not add extra words or punctuation.

Correct author-page format

• (Morrison 42)

What not to do

• (Morrison, 42), incorrect because MLA does not use a comma between author and page.
• (Morrison, p. 42), incorrect because MLA does not use p. or pp. in in-text citations.

This rule matters because MLA in-text citations are designed to be brief. Extra labels like “p.” slow down reading, and commas create a format that looks like other styles, which can confuse readers and instructors.

Parenthetical citations, how they work

A parenthetical citation usually appears at the end of the sentence, before the period. The citation points to the source, and the period closes the sentence after the parentheses.

Basic pattern

• Your sentence ends here (Author page).

Placement tip

Put the parenthetical citation as close as possible to the borrowed idea. If a paragraph uses one source throughout, you still need to make sure it stays clear where the source is being used. Many writers include a citation in the first sentence that uses the source and again when the source is used after a shift or after a long stretch of your own analysis.

Narrative citations, how they work

A narrative citation names the author in your sentence. Since the author is already in the text, MLA usually requires only the page number in parentheses.

Basic pattern

• Author argues this point (page).

Narrative citations matter because they can improve flow. They also help you emphasize the researcher or writer, which can be useful when comparing sources or showing a debate among scholars.

Example 1, parenthetical citation for a book quotation

Student sentence (correct MLA 9)

Morrison describes memory as something that can remain “outside the mind” and still shape daily life (42).

Why this is correct

• The author’s name is not in the sentence, so it appears in the parentheses.
• The page number is included because the book has page numbers.
• There is no comma between the author and the page number.
• There is no p. or pp. label in the in-text citation.
• The period comes after the closing parenthesis, which keeps the citation attached to the sentence.

Common pitfall

Writing (Morrison, 42) looks small, but MLA treats that comma as an error. MLA expects a clean author-page format without extra punctuation.

Example 2, narrative citation for a book paraphrase

Student sentence (correct MLA 9)

Morrison suggests that the past can feel physically present, even when people try to ignore it (42).

Why this is correct

• “Morrison” appears in the sentence, so the parentheses contain only the page number.
• The citation is still brief and easy to scan.
• The reader can match “Morrison” to the Works Cited entry that begins with Morrison’s name.

Practical tip

Use narrative citations when you want to highlight the writer’s role, such as when you compare viewpoints.

• Morrison emphasizes emotional memory (42), while another scholar might focus on historical context.

Example 3, source with no page numbers (webpage or some ebooks)

Many online sources do not have stable page numbers, including webpages, some ebooks, and some database articles in HTML view. MLA 9 says you should still cite the source, but you use the best available location information.

Option A, use an author only (common for webpages)

Community health guidance often stresses that small routine changes are more effective than extreme short-term plans (Nguyen).

Why this works

• The source has no page numbers, so you do not invent them.
• The author name still connects clearly to the Works Cited entry.

Option B, use a chapter or section name if it helps readers

If the webpage has clear section headings, you can name the section in your sentence, then cite the author. This is often clearer than putting a long title in parentheses.

In the “Sleep Habits” section, Nguyen explains that consistent bedtime routines support long-term energy and focus (Nguyen).

Option C, use a paragraph number only if your instructor requires it

MLA allows numbering systems when they are stable and helpful, such as paragraph numbers in some legal or official documents. Many webpages do not have reliable paragraph numbering, so this is not always a good choice.

If you do use paragraph numbers, keep the citation readable and consistent, and follow your instructor’s preference.

Handling sources without an author

Sometimes there is no listed author. MLA still requires an in-text citation that matches the first element of the Works Cited entry.

• If the Works Cited entry starts with a title, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks for an article or webpage, or in italics for a book or site title.

Example patterns.

• (“Short Article Title”)
• (Short Book Title 42)

Practical tip, shorten the title to the first key words. Keep the wording consistent with the Works Cited entry so readers can find it quickly.

Why these rules matter

They protect clarity

A reader should be able to find the source fast. Author-page citations are a simple map. When you add extra punctuation or labels, you make the map harder to read.

They support credibility

Clear citations show you can separate your ideas from a source’s ideas. This strengthens your argument and reduces the risk of accidental plagiarism.

They create consistency

MLA is used across many humanities courses. Consistent formatting helps instructors and readers focus on your ideas, not on decoding your citation style.

Practical tips and common pitfalls

Tips

• Match your Works Cited first element. If your Works Cited entry begins with an organization, use that organization name in the in-text citation.
• Cite the specific location when possible. Page numbers are best when available. If not, use another stable locator only when it truly helps.
• Choose parenthetical or narrative based on flow. Use narrative when you want to emphasize the author, use parenthetical when you want the sentence to stay focused on your point.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Using p. or pp. in in-text citations. MLA in-text citations do not use them.
• Adding a comma. Write (Morrison 42), not (Morrison, 42).
• Placing the period before the citation. The citation should come before the final punctuation in most cases.
• Making up page numbers for webpages. If there are no page numbers, do not invent them.

Quick formatting recap

Parenthetical

• End of sentence: (Author page)

Narrative

• In sentence: Author says this (page)

No page numbers

• Usually: (Author)
• If no author: (Shortened Title)

If you want, share one of your sources, a book, article, or webpage, and I can show the exact parenthetical and narrative in-text citations that match its Works Cited entry in MLA 9.

📚 Comprehensive Examples

❌ Common Errors to Avoid

✅ Validation Checklist

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

🔗 Related Resources

• MLA Citation Checker
• How to Cite Books in MLA
• MLA 9th Edition Guide